Braking device



Sept. 27, 1938. C.' BRlssQN BRAKING' DEVICE Filed oct. 27, 193e '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 27, 193s.

L. C. BRISSON BRAKING DEVICE Filed Oct. 27. 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 LduS ChQvles BYSSon www5.

Sept. 27, 1938. 1 c fBlRlssoN 2,131,369 v BRAKING DEVICE Filed Oct. 27, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet o m l :1 am f a g .s I' E Fiel.

y `Att() vneys.

Sept. 27, 1938. l c. BRlssoN 2,131,359

B RAKING DEvIcE `Fi1ed Oct. 27, v1936 Shee-tsf-Sheet 5 C? A fr Uli@ I l b. I i u n K Sept. 27, 1938. l.. c. BRlssoN 7 BRAKING DEVICE Filed oct. 27. 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 .Fica/I3.

Inllenov: Louis Charles rlpq y tt'avweys.

sept-2n 19a-s. L. C. BRISSON 2,131,369

I BRAKING DEVICE I Filed oct. 27; 193e 7 Vsheets-shew; v

Patented se'pi. 27, 193s UNITED STATES BEARING *A Louis Charles Brlsson, Neuilly-siir4-Seine,France,-

' assigner to Societe Anonyme: Societe desL Freins' Hydranlques S. de Lavaud, Paris, France Application In ociosa- 27. 1936, seriailNo. 101,181 France September 30,1936

This invention relates. to braking devices applicable to all varieties of machinery involving rotating elements, namely to such devices commonly used on vehicles oi all kinds,'fr example on automotive vehicles; and it relates more par` The main purpose o f my invention is to pro-' vide a simple, practical, reliable and not costlyv solution of this problem.v

The principal object ofniy invention-Lis .to provide a braking device applicablev to allvarieties of machinery involving rotating elements,

in which the brakeY shoes, during the yidlejor oi periods, are automatically returned to denite and xed positions of rest.`

In certain brakes of the type hereinbeforedescribed, use is made of` hydraulic `meansfor expending the brake shoes and appLvingthem against the brake drum. It has further been "proposed, in my copending application Ser. No. 63,458, filed on Feb. 11, 1936, to attach lsaid hydraulic expanding means to one of. thebrake shoes; furthermore, U. S. `Patent N o. 1,998,533

discloses the combination in such brakes of hyf draulic expanding means 35 with mechanical exf panding means.

Another objectof my bined mechanism being mounted onone of the brake shoes.

A further objectv is to provide a braking delV Vvice oi' the type described, embodying the automatic self-applying feature.

A-still further object is to provide a braking device oi the type described, incorporating, combination with the various features herein-- before dened, means for automatically adjust-A ing the slack, in order to compensate for the wear in the brakepacking. said slack adjusting' means being operativeY both inicase of hydraulic and of mechanical operation of the brake.

invention toY provide YaV braking device of Lthe type-describedwh'ich' is equipped with combined hydraulic and.me

vention;` vchanical operating means, the body of Said com-v accompanying drawings; but it is tobe understood that description and drawings are presented merely by/ way of illustration, and that they should not be construedin any fashion as limiting the appended claims short of the trueand most comprehensive'scope 'of theinventionin the art. A

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a' view in elevation of one of the prefferred embodiments of my invention;

Fig. 2 is alarga-scale view in cross-sectional elevation through line ZCI-l1 oi? Fig. 3, -of-l cer- Fig. 3`is'a view in cross-sectional Yside eleva'- tion through line 'III- III of Fig. 2', of the 'def tails shownin Fig. 2; l

' Fig'. 4 is a view,`in crosssectionaL'side elevation, of thesame details, but through line'IV-IV Fig. 5 is a view in plane cross-section 'through 'line V-V ofvFig. 2, of one of the details illustratedin that iigure;

Fig.'6 isa -view in cross-section through VI--VIofFlgsn Fig. 7 is a view in crossfsection through line VII-VII of Fig. 1;. :i

Fig. 8 is aview in cross-section through line VIII-VIH 0I F18. 1;

AFig.9 isa view in cross-section through IX-IX' of Fig. 1;

10 is a view in cross-section through line;

'method to' be followed -in laying out uio brake Fig. 12 is a view in elevation- ,similar to that of Fig. 1, but. referring to a variant o f my inrig; 1a is a'view ii'i'eievation similar to that of F1g. 1, but referring to a.second preferrei'lV embodiment of my inventiom' Fig. 14 is a similar view, but

" Fig. isis a. detail view of one ofthe preferred forms offthe brakeoperating mechanism.

tobe applied against the inner faceof saiddrum,

are shownat 2, 3 and 4. The drumfljis ilxed to the rotating machine part to be braked,

vehicle; butit is; to 'be lunderstoodthat my invention is in no wayjlimite'd in its Aizo-this referring-eo a l `as for example to the wheeljfo amautomotive- Further objects and advantages of my invention will-appear to one skilled in the artfrom` the following description, with referencetotvhe-;v 'particular application'. The normalldirection' of rotation of the drum Iis indicated, in Fig. 1, by the arrow f; hence, in the case of an automotive vehicle, said arrow f indicates the direction of rotation of thedrum corresponding to forward motion of the vehicle. 'I'he brake shoe 2 is interconnected with brake shoe 3 by link members 5 and 6, which are articuiated by means of a pin 1 onto the brake shoe 2, and by means of a pin 8 onto the brake shoe 3. 'I'he articulated joint on pin 1 is free, meaning thereby that no special precaution is taken to provide substantial frictional resistance between said-pin and said articulated members; the pin 1 is simply held in place by means of washers 9 and I0 and cotter pins II and I2.

On thecontrary, the articulated joint on the pin 8 is designed to provide a relatively large frictional resistance tending to oppose the relative rotation ofthe `link members 5 and 6 with respect to the brake -shoe 3. For this purpose, the pin 8 is provided on one end Awith a head I3, and on the other end with a threaded portion I4, upon'which is screwed a 'nut I5 coacting with a spring washer I6. In this manner, the members articulated on the pin 8 are subjected to an elastic pressure that may be adjusted at will by tightening orloosening the Y nut I5, said elastic pressure producing between the link members 5 and 6 and the brake shoe 3 the frictional resistance required. 'Ihe nut I5 may be notched and held in position by means of a cotter pin I1, or by any other suitable means.

At its other end, the brake shoe 3 is provided with another pin I8, upon which are articulated two other link members I9 and 20. The articulation at I8 is also a friction joint, and to this end the pin I8 is provided -at one end with a said nut 23, when screwed to the position pro- 'ducing the correct frictional resistance, being Amaintained-in said position by means of a cotter-pin 25. The link members I9 and 28 are freely articulated on a fixed pivot pin 26 (Figs.

1 and 9). Said pivot pin 26 is provided with a base or collar 21 formed integrally thereon and with a threaded portion 28 which engages in a hole 29 drilled in the fixed cheek `member of' the brake 30. A nut 3| screwed onto said threaded portion, with a washer 324, enable said pin 2 tcae rigidly secured to said fixed cheek mem- Two other link members 32 and 33 are further articulated onto the -pin 26, preferably on opposite sides of link members I9 and 26, the latter being preferably separated `from each other by means of a washer 34. The complete articulated joint on the pin 26 rests upon the base 21, and is maintained in position by means of a cotter pin 36. Said articulated members are therefore free to rotate without substantial frictional resistance.

'I'he link members 32 and 33 are articulated with friction onto the brake shoe 4 by means of a pin31 provided with a head 38 and threaded portion 39, upon which is screwed a nut 40 which presses upon said articulated members through theV medium of an elastic washer 4I. nut 46 is tightened to give the correct frictional resistance between the articulated members, itis brake shoe 2.

When the i the brake shoes. Said body 43 is rigidly secured to said brake shoe 4 by means of a bolt 44 and nut 45. Said body 43 is provided internally with a cylindrical bore 46, the end of which forms a outlet 54 within which fits a conical washer 55,

the joint being made tight by the pressure of a screw collar 56. On the other hand, the duct 5I communicates with another duct 51, the latter being "closed by means of a blind screw plug 58.

The edges of the cup-shaped rubber diaphragm or membrane 48 is firmly clamped by means of a cylindrical sleeve 59, which is pressed down upon the edges of said .membrane by means' which will be described later. On the other end of said sleeve 59 is applied a at disk 60 provided at its center with an orifice 6I through which passes the rod 62 of a piston-like member 63, said piston member 63 being applied against the membrane 48. The disk 60 is provided on its outer face with a crown of ratchet teeth 64, which teeth' co-act with a pawl 65 pivoted at 66 on a secondary piston member 61. Said pawl 65 is subjected to the action of a spring 65 which Atends to maintain it in continual engagement with said ratchet teeth 64. Said secondary piston member 61 slides axially within a'. cylinder 68 which is pressed against the disk 66; To this end, the cylinder 68 is provided on its outer edge with a threaded portion 69, while the cylinder 43 comprises on its outer edge, facing that of cylinder 68, a similar threaded portion 10, but of opposite pitch to that of 69. A threadedcollar 1I provided with opposite screwthreads correspond-` ing with those on cylinders 43 and 68, engages vsimultaneously said screwthreads 69 and 10, thus clamping the cylinder 68 against the disk 60, said the periphery of the rubber membrane 48.

The secondary piston member. 61 is'v provided with a deep lateral groove 12 and an axially bored hole 13, which hole is tapped so as to form a nut on a screw member 14 terminated by a -head 15. Said head 15 comprises a slot 16 within winch fits tightly an abutment member 11 `secured by means of rivets 18 and 19 to the Inthis manner, the screw 14 is prevented from rotating.

A finger formed integrally on. a lever'8l pivoted by means of a pin 82 onto the cylinder 68 engages the lateral groove 12. 0`n its other end, the lever 8l is articulated by means of a pin 83 to a knuckle joint 84 to which is attached a flexible control .cable 85, said exible cable being axially slidable within-a exible guiding sheath 86 (Figs. 2 and 8), the end of which sheath is anchored to a supporting bracket 88 riveted at 89 and 90 to the brake shoe 4. A helical spring 9| is inserted between said bracket 8 8 and said knuckle 84, in such manner as to push said knuckle in the direction of the arrow 92.

On a pivot pin V`93.(1igs. lfand 8), rigidly mounted on the fixed cheek member 38 of the brake, islrotatably mounted a `sleeve member` l threaded et its outer end as. on seideleeve i member `94 are mounted in successionthree operating levers 96, 91 and 98, a rigid washer,

Y an elastic washer and iinally another rigid f material frictional resistance betweensaid op- L.

washer |0| the assembly of the three levers andv three washers being 'pressed together by means of a nut |02 screwed onto. the screwthread 95 of the sleeve 94, in such manner as to create a erating levers 96, 9] and 98 and said sleeve 94. The latter is maintained in its position on the pin 93 by a cotter pin |03.

A link member |04 is articulated by means of a pin |05 onto the other end of lever 96, and by a pin |06 onto the brake shoe 2.. Furthermore, a helicalspring |01 attached to a support ||5,

rigidly secured to the cheek member 30 of the brake, engages at |08 a second arm 96a of the lever 96. A link member |09 is articulated by means of a. pin ||0 ontothe lever 91, and by means of a pin tothe brake shoe 3. Finally,

a link member ||2 is articulated by means of a pin ||3 onto the lever 98, and by means of a.'A

pin ||4 onto the brake shoe 4.

' Pins ||6, ||1 and H8, which are rigidly secured to the iixed cheek member 300i the brake, pass freely, with ample clearance, respectively vthrough slotted orices H9, and |2I formed in the brake shoes 2, 3 and 4; and said pins bear .onctheir outer ends guiding washers |22, |23 and |24, held in position by cotter pins -suchas |25 (Fig. 10). y

- 'I'he bottom of the slot 16 cut in the head 15 of the screw member 141s a plane surface perpendicular to the center line 'of said screw 14.

,TheV result is, of course, that the contact pressure transmitted by the link members 5 and 6 between the brake shoes 2- and 3. are evidently directed along the center lines, of said link members, that is along the straight line CD passing through the centers of the pins 1.a1`1d 8. The straight lines AB and CD intersect at a point E, and the pins |05 and |06 are so .located that the straight .line passing through the geometric centers of said pins also passes through point E, which is knownas the pole of the brake shoe 2.

The forces transmitted by thelink members 5 and 6 to the brake shoe 3 are directed along the straight line CD, and the reaction transmitted by the link members I9 and 20 to the same brakev shoe 3 are directed along the line GF, which passes through the geometric centers of the pins 36 and I8. The straight lines, CD and GF intersect at a point not shown on the iigures, which point is the pole of the brake shoe 3. The pins H0 and are so located that the straight line passing through their geometric centers also passes through said pole,

Finally, the reactions transmitted to the brake shoe `4 by the link members 32 and 33 are directed along the straight line GH which passes through the geometrie centers of thepins 26 and 31. The

' line GH intersects the line AB ata point K, which is the pole of the brake shoe 4. Thepins ||3 and |14 are so located that the straight line which passes through their geometriccenters also passes through the pole K. l v

In the foregoing discussion, I have considered all the forces and reactions to which are separately subjected each of the brake shoes 2, 3 and 4, with the exception of the reaction exerted by the revolving brake drum `l upon the shoes applied against its surface. I have shown that all the forces acting on each brake shoe converge at one point, which point is the pole of that brake shoe. Thereforethe condition of equilibrium of the brake shoe during the braking period necessarily requires that the reaction of the brake ldrum upon said brake shoe should also pass through thepole.

The problem of the determination of the direction of said reaction of the'brake drum has beencompletely treated in '-the German Patent No.

' 603,850. It has been demonstrated in said German patent that the reaction is tangent to a circle having the same center O as the brake 'drum I, and whose radius p is given by the formula:

p=s sin p (i) p is the angle of friction s is the radius of the pressure circle, the value of which .is computed by the formula.:

InFormula (1)- s 4 sin 'y1 r-'sin 2714-271 (2) l'nFormula (2)- r is the radius of the brake drum i;

271 represents the angular opening of the brake packing --2a on the brakeshoe 2.

ings arelalso set symmetrically with respect to the axis of pressure of each brake shoe for forward motion. This insures the advantages mentioned in the German Patent No. 603,850, to wit: Uniformity ofwear of the brake packing, great improvement in the constancy of the braking effect in spite of variations in the coefcient of friction.

between the brake packingand the drum, a much more gradual progression in the braking effect, and the elimination of the tendency tosudden l blocking of the wheels.

It will be explained further that the ,relative positions of the links |04,. |09 and |I2 with respect tothe corresponding levers 96, 91 and-98,

and the relative positions ofpins |06, and ||4\ on one hand, and'of the pin 93 on the other hand, are by no means indifferent, and should be accurately determined; and finally that the lengths of levers 96, 91 and 98 must be correctly laid out. Although these explanations properly form a part of the description of the brake mechanism, they can only be easily'understood after the description of its operation; for that reason, they will be deferred until later. The operation of the brake is as follows: When the driver wishes to apply said brake, he may either produce a hydraulic pressure inside the feed pipe 53 by any suitable means, or else exert a pull on the flexible cable 85. f

said brake applying means.

a body 26, said body being provided, for mounting purposes, with a. screw-threaded portion |21 passing through said frame, and a. nut |28 engaging said threaded portion. 'I'he body |26 is hollow and isclosedbyascrew cap |29 which co-operates with a tapped portion |30 of saidbody |26. `When screwed down into place, the screw cap |29 firmly clamps the edges of a heavy cup-shaped rubbermembrane or diaphragm |3|, which may, for example, be of spherical shape. Said rubber diaphragm is made perfectly tight by means of a peripheral metallic sealing ring- |32, which also serves as a guide for a piston member |33, the piston'rod of which |34, terminating in a pedal |35,' passes through. the screw cap |29. The space |34 inside said body |26 communicates with the feed pipe 53; a filling hole closed by a screw plug is shown at 35. It will be readily seen that, once the feed pipe 53 and the entire space |34 have been filled with liquid, a hydraulicpressure will be created therein by pressing upon the pedal |35, which hydraulic pressure will be transmitted to the expanding mechanism contained in the body 43.

On the other hand, the mechanical operating mechanism is as follows: The cable 85, one end of which is attached to the lever 8|, is attached at .the other end to a guiding rod |36, to which is secured a handle |31. Said rod |36 slides within a bore |38 drilled in a support |39 secured to the frame by means of a threaded portion |40, a nut |4| engaging said threaded portion and a lock nut |42. Furthermore, the support |39 is tapped at |43 to accommodate the threaded ring terminating the sheath 86 guiding the flexibley cable 85. It will readily be seen that a pull exerted on the handle |31 will be transmittedby the cable 85 to the brake operating lever 8|, thus operating the brake expanding mechanism.

'I'he operation of the hydraulic brake-expanding mechanism will now be described.

The hydraulic pressure produced by pressure on the pedal |35 swells out the cup-shaped rubber' membrane or diaphragm 48, which in turn displaces towards the right the piston member ,Y 63 and its rod 62. Said rod 62, which contacts with the secondary piston 61, transmits its motion to\ said secondary piston, which in turn transmits of the brake shoes, at least'at the start of said motion, causes the three levers 96, 91 and 98 to rotate as one integral unit. It should of course be noted that the friction between said levers is suiiicient to overcome the resistance of the 5 spring |01. l

The brake shoe 3 is articulated with friction, through the pin-I8, to the link members |9 and 20, which are .themselves freely rotatable with respect to the pin 26. Hence the brake shoe 3 10 and the link members |9 and 20 tend to rotate as "an integral unit around the pin 26, under the action of the thrust transmitted by the link |09 to the pin The motion of the brake shoe 2 is somewhat 15 more complex, for said shoe is freely articula-ted,

'through the pin 1, to the link members 5 and 6,

which are themselves articulated with friction onto the pin 8 and the brake shoe 3. The pin 1 therefore moves with the link members 5 and 6, 20 the brake shoe 3 and the link members |9 and 20, around the pin 26 as a center, while the brake shoe 2 may rotate around the pin 1. The move-l ment of the brake shoe 2 is therefore the resultant of two rotations, one around the pin 1 and 25 the other around thel pin 26.

After a certain time, the brake shoes come into contact with the brake drum and from that time on, the effect of the reaction of the drum is felt.

The brake drum is here supposed to revolve in the direction of the arrow f. It will be understood. that the reaction of the drum tends to force the brake'shoe 2 to revolve with said drum;

this movement is opposed by the reaction of the 35 link members `5 and. 6, which is transmitted through the pin 8 to the brake shoe 3, which in turn transmits said reaction through the pin I8 andthe link members I9 and 20, to the fixed pin 26. It is thus seen that the system comprising 40 the brake shoes 2 and 3, the link members 5 and its motion to the brake shoe 2, through the med- A iumof the screw -'|4, whose threads have a very low pitch. Thev force` exerted by the hydraulic pressure therefore tends to move the brake shoe 2 towards the right, and the brake shoe 4 towards the left, since the body 43 of the expanding mechanism is secured to said brake shoe 4.

The force applied to the brake shoe 4 tends to make the latter rotate around the pin 26 as a center; for, as explained above, the brake shoe 4 is articulated with friction to the link.

' members 82 and 33, while said link members are freely articulated onto-the pin 26. It is clear, therefore, that the assembly of the brake shoe 4 and the link members 32 and 33 rotates as a whole around the pin 26. In the course of this movement, the pin ||4 moves with the brake shoe 4 and entrains, by means of the link member ||2, the lever 98. It will be recalled that the lever 98 is coupled by frictional resistance to the levers 96 and 91, and also to the sleeve 94. Therefore the levers 96, 91 and 98 tend to 70y revolve together, the more readily that the efi fort exerted on the brake shoe 2 causes said Mbrake shoe to move to the right, which motion is transmitted to the lever 96 by the pin |06, the

link ,member |04 and the pin |05. It-^will be understood therefore that the expanding motion 6 on one end and |9fand 20l on the other end,l forni a self-applying brake which functions in a manner already well known in the art. For this direction ofrotation of the brake drum, the'45 brake shoe 4 has no self-applying effect. `Therefore if it is supposed that one of the brake shoes has come in contact with the drum .before the others, it is seen that the displacement of the first, shoe stopsv while that of the 5 other shoes continues, until they in turn are in contact with the drum. Under these conditions, it is clear that the levers 96, 91 and 98 change their relative positionsslightly. Said change in relative position will, at'the end of the braking 55 period, when the spring |01 begins to draw the",A brake shoes back into their olf positions, allow '5 the automatic centering of the brake shoes within the drum to be eected; in other words, through the medium of said slight change in the 60 relative positions of said levers 96, 91 and 98 during the preceding braking period, when the brake is next applied, the brake shoes will all come simultaneously in contact with the drum.'

When the hydraulic pressure is released; the 65 spherical rubber membrane or diaphragm. is free to resume its initial position under theaction of the spring |01; for said spring, in contracting, causes the assembly of parts comprising levers 96, 91 and 98, and the sleeve 94, t`o`70 rotate anti-clockwise on the pin 93. The result l is that the link members |04, |09 and ||2 trans- A mit respectively to the brake shoes 2, 3 and 4 motion which draws them away from the brake drum. The motion of brake shoes 2 and 4 to- 75 wards each other evidently thrusts the screw 14, theV n member 61, the piston rod 62 and the piston 63, back into the body 43 of the hydraulic expanding mechanism, so that all these parts resume the positions shown in the drawings. In their oli position, the brake shoes must be equally spaced away from 'the brake drinn, and it will be understood that, in order to -secure this result, it is necessary that the'movement transmitted to the brake `-shoes 2, 3 and 4 by the contraction of the spring |01 should not be substantially modied by the relative displacements to which the levers 96, 91 and 98 may have been subjected during the previous braking period. In order to satisfy this condition, it is evidently sulcient-that the link members 96 and |04, 91 and |09, and 98 and ||2, respectively form betweenthem angles differing only slightly from 90; forexample, that said angles be included between the limits of 80 and 100. Under these conditions the displacements of theipins |06, III, and ||4, for a given angular displace- -ment of levers 96, 91 and 90 under the' action of the spring |01, are not substantially altered, even when the pins v|05, |I0 and ||3 have been slightly displaced from their original positions.

Since the brake shoes 2, 3 and 4, whenin thev oli position; must be equally spaced away from the surface of the drum I, and since the clearance. between them is a function of the angular displacement of the levers 96, 91 and 98 as. an integral unit, it is clear that the lengths of said levers must have denite values, and likewise,l that the position of the pivot pin 93 mustheare iirst laid out in their working positions, that is in contact with .the drum and then in the 'positions of rest which it is desired to ascribe to them between the braking periods, in which positions said brake shoes should be equally spaced awayfrom the brake drum surface. It is known that the center lines of all the link members interconnecting said brake shoes must all pass through the poles of the corresponding brake shoes. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 11,

the lines |04, |09 and H2, which indicate vthe geometric equivalents of the corresponding link members, may be laid out; hence the projection of the displacement of the pin |06 on line I 04 may also be determined; and since the lever 96 is approximately perpendicular to the line |04, the length of said projection represents very closely the actualdisplacementof the pin |05.` Likewise, the projection of the-displacement of the levers 96, 91 and 98 must be proportional' A to the displacements so determined.' 'Therefore the geometric lay out may be effected as follows:

On a perpendicular to the line |04 is laid out a length a--o proportional to the displacement of the pin |05# and through point b a parallel is 'drawn to the line |04. On a perpendicular to the line I2 is laid out a length c-d proportional, with the same ratio of proportionality as in the previous case, to the displacement of the pin' ||3; and through the point d is drawn aparallel to the line H2, which parallel intersects at e that drawn through b to the line |04. Through the point e, a perpendicular is now dropped onto line |09, and on said perpendicular is laid out a length e-g proportional to the displacement of the pin ||0; and, finally, through the point g is drawn a parallel to the line |09.

' In this manner, a triangle Ic-l-m is obtained,

which is similar to the triangle k-m-p, the] ratio of proportionality'being that of k-p Evidently,r the point within the" triangle k-n -p which should mark the geometric center of the pin 93 should beV homologous to point Ye in triangle 7oZ-m. The center of the. pin

93 may therefore easily be located, and will give simultaneously the lengthsrof the levers lili, 91

and 98, which will be the lengths of perpendiculars dropped respectivelyofrom the point 93 onto the straight lines |04, |0'9 and |2.

v In a brake designed as above indicated, it is Aclear that, inthe oli position, or position of rest, the brake shoesrwill be equally spaced away from the drum and that during the braking periods, they will all come simultaneously in contact Awith Ythe' vdrum surface.v The adjustment of the relative vpositions of thellevers 96, 91 and 90 will be'eiected automatically at the first application of.the brake, and will continue in thesame automatic manner thereafter, whenever a new adjustment becomes necessary through unequal wear of the packing on the different brake shoes.` s The disk provided witha crown of 'ratchet teeth 64 co-actingV withflthe pawiA 65, the sec-l ondary piston .61 and the' screw 14, constitute an automatic slack-adjusting mechanism which functions in the -sa'me manner as that disclosed in U. S. Patent 1,971,643, of August 28, 1934, to

D. Sensaud de Laveau.. Hence the description of said slack-adjusting mechanism` would be superuous, since it is already known inthe art.' The use olf` such -a-device in combination with the novel means hereinbefore described makes it possible to design` a brake having automatic selfcentering brake shoes and a constant slack, re-

gardless of the wear ofthe brake packing.`

- When it is desired to apply the brakeby me.

chanical 'ad ofY hydraulicmeans, the driver exerts, by ans of the handle |31, a tractive ei'- fort on theexible cable 85. VItshould be'noted that, in the best known methods of vtransmitting mechanicalv forces' lthrough the medium of iiex ible cables, the reaction'of the forcs applied to the cable proper istaken up by -the lsheath-86 .v of said cable. Nowsaid sheathY is anchored'ato. v

the supporting bracket 08, whizhis itself; rigidly secured to the brake shoe 4 Hence", `in the case of mechanical operation of thebrake, asin that* of-` lhydraulic,1operation`,'j the o1' forces, brought into'play to; expand the brakg/f'shoes is 'entirely internal to thefbralr'e and presents no. point of .application 'outside of Asaid brake.,

The tractive `effort, exerted/on the cable `85 'causesthe lever 8| to revolve clockwisefar'ound the pin 82 as a center. '-.Throughlthe' medium of the iinger 80, said Ylever 8| -exerts a' thrustfon the secondary piston'61 which causesthe.A latter to slide axially outwards with respect to the body 43, which is secured to the brake shoe 4. The operation of the brake-expandingl mechanism is therefore identical, from that point on, to that produced by the hydraulic means previously de- -scribed; and itis interesting to note that the slack-adjusting mechanism is operative in both cases.

The fixed pins ||6, ||1 and H8, with their retaining washers |22, |23 and |24, serve only to limit the freedom of motion of the brake shoes substantially to the plane of the brake drum, and said pins play no active part in the operation of the brake. The orientation of the slots H9, |20 and 2| is determined graphically; moreover, as specified hereinbefore, said slots H9, |20 and |2| leave considerable clearance aroundj the corresponding pins, and are intended to leave the brake shoes -free to take up their correct positions.

' The operation of the brake during reverse motion of the vehicle, that is when the brake drum I revolves in the opposite direction from that indicated by the arrow f, is similar tothe operation during forward motion, with the exception that, in the second case, the brake shoe 4 is subjected to the automatic self-applying effect, whereas the brake shoes 2 and 3 are no longer subject to this effect. I

l As shown in the variant illustrated in Fig. 12, the spring |01 could be attached directly to the brakeshoe 2, instead of acting on the lever 96. In this case, the pull of the spring |01 must be directed towards the pole E of the brake shoe `2, in order to satisfy the basic condition that all the forces acting on said brake shoe converge at the pole thereof. It should be understood, of course, that the scope of this invention extends to the case where l The embodiment of the invention indicated in Fig. 13 differs from that shown in Fig. 1 in that itl comprises four brake shoes instead of three. The brake shoe 4, instead of supporting the body 43 of the hydraulic expanding device, is connected by means of the link members |44 to the fourth brake shoe |45, which now supports said body 4'3, together with the supporting bracket 88 to which is anchored the sheath of the cable of the mechanical operating device. The. link members |44 are articulated with friction at |46 to the brake shoe 4', and are freely articulated at |41 to the brake shoe |45. Asupplementary lever |48 is added to the levers96, 91 and 98 on the sleeve 94, and said ulever` 48 is connected by a link member |49 to the brake shoe |45. link member |49 is articulated at |58 onto the lever |48, and`at|5| onto the brake shoe |45..

For said brake shoe as for the others, the direction of the forces transmitted by the link member |49 passes substantially through the pole of said brake shoe. The operation is evidently identical .to that described in connection with the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, with the exception that, in Fig.,13, the brake is symmetrical, and operates in the same manner on forward andreverse motion.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 14, the same elements are found as in that of Fig. 13;

that is, the brake comprises \four symmetrical brake shoes; but the levers 96, 91, 98 and |48, instead of having a common axis of rotation on Said the pin 93, are mounted on two separate pins symmetrically disposed. Thus-it is seen that the levers 96 and 91 are mounted on the sleeve 94 previously described, which sleeve is itself mounted on the pin 93. But the levers 98 and |48 are mounted on another sleeve |52, similar to sleeve 94, whichsleeve |52 is mounted on a second pin |53, similar to the pin 93. The return spring |54 of the brake shoes is not connected between the-lever 96' and a fixed support ||5, but directly between said lever 96 and the lever |48. This arrangement functions in exactly the same manner as that shown in Fig. 13, and therefore constitutes a simple variant thereof, which, under certain circumstances, may facilitate the construction or the assembly of the brake parts, owing to the fact that the levers 96, 91, 98 and |48 are no longer mounted all on the same pin.

However, the above design, as described, might, under certain conditions, prove unsatisfactory, in that the assembly of brake parts might tend torotate as a whole around the pin 26 as a. center, unless special precautions were taken to prevent said motion; in which case, the accurate centering' of the brake shoes would no longer be insured. f I n order to correct this defect, the lever |48 may be extended, as shown in Fig. 14, to form an extension arm |55 beyond the pin |53, which extension armf |55 is connected by means of a link member r|56 to the lever 96, said connection -being effected by means of the articulations |51 and |58. Inthisumannenthe displacementsof levers |48 and 96 are co-ordinated. I.

The various embodiments o'fmy invention here. inbefore'described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings constitute certain preferred, forms of said invention; but I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the actual structural details and assemblies shown and described, for obvious modifications thereto will occur to one skilled in the art.

.What I claim is:

1. In a' braking device, a brake drum, a plurality of brake shoes adapted to contact with said brake drum, pressure applying means for applying said brake shoes against said brake 'linkage -means interconnecting saidlevers with said brake shoes.

2. In a braking device, a. brake drum, a plurality of brake shoes adapted to contact with said brake drum, linkage means interconnecting adjacent brake'shoes for forming a chain terminating in two end brake shoes, aflrst fixed pivot pin, linkp age means connecting one end brake shoe to said rst pivot pin, pressure applying means for thrusting the other end brake shoe towards saidbrake drum, elastic means adapted to oppose said pressure applying means, asecond fixed pivot pin, laI

plurality of levers freely and rotatably mounted on said second xed pivot pin, means for4 creating frictional contact between -said levers, and linkage means connecting said levers to said brake shoes.

3. In a braking device, a brake drum, a, plurality of brake shoes adapted to contact with said .35 connecting adjacent brake shoes, a first iixed f means and to exerta pull on said second end brake shoe, a second xed pivot pin, a plurality of levers freely and rotatably mounted .on said second fixed pivot pin, means for creating frlc- 'i0 tional contact between said levers and linkage means interconnecting said levers with said brake shoes.

4. In a braking device, a brake drum, two brake shoes adapted to contact with said brake drum, l5

a freely rotatable articulation connecting said linkage means to one of said brake shoes, an articulation producing frictional resistance connecting said linkage means and the second brake l shoe, a xed support, a second linkage means, an articulation producing frictional resistance connecting said second linkage means to said second brake shoe,a free articulation -connecting said second linkage. means and said xed support, a fixed pivot pin, a plurality of levers freely and rotatably mounted on said iixed pivot pin, means for maintaining frictional contact between said levers, two linkage means interconnecting said levers with said brake shoes, means for thrusting one of said brake shoes towards said brake drum, and elastic means adapted to oppose said thrustingmeans.

5. In a braking device, a brake drum, a plu-- rality of brake shoes adapted to contact with said brake drum, a plurality of linkage means interpivot pin, linkage means interconnecting one end brake shoe with said first xed pivot pin, .pressure applying means for thrusting the other end brake shoe towards vsaid brake drum, a second xed pivot pin, a plurality of levers freely and rotatably mounted on said second fixed pivot l pin, means for maintaining frictional resistance between said levers, linkage means interconnectmember adapted to oppose said pressure applying means, said spring member being attached tothe lever linked with .said end brake shoe subjected to the thrust of said pressure applying means.

6. In a braking device, a brake drum, two brake shoes adapted to contact with said brake drum,"

linkage means interconnecting said brake shoes, a free articulation connecting said linkage means with one of said hiake'shoes, an articulation with friction connecting said linkage means with said second brake shoe, a xed support, a second linkage means, an varticulation with friction connecting said second linkage means with said second second linkage means to said fixedA support, a

xed pivot pin, a plurality of levers freely and rotatably mounted on said xed -pivot pin, means for maintaining frictional resistance between said levers, two linkage means interconnecting said levers with said brake shoes, means for thrusting oneof said brake shoes towards said brake drum, and a spring attached to the lever linked with said rst brake shoe. y i -7. In a braking device, a brake drum, a rst fixed pivot pin', a plurality of brake shoes arranged in sequence and adapted to contact with said brake drum, linkage means interconnecting adjacent brake shoes and connecting said brake \shoes with'said iirstxed pivot pin, pressure ap- 75 Lplying means for thrusting the end brake shoe linkage means interconnecting said brake shoes,

ing said levers with -said brake shoes, a springbrake shoe,v a free articulation .connecting said,

towards said brake another brake shoe ar- Y ranged between said iirst xed pivo't pin and said pressure applying means and adapted to receive a thrust from said pressure applying means, a. 'Y

second xed pivot pin, a. plurality of levers freely and rotatably mounted on said second xed pivot pin, means for maintaining frictional resistancebetween said levers, linkage means interconnectl -ing said levers with said brake shoes and elastic meansadapted to oppose said pressure applying means.

8. In a brakin'g device, a brake drum, two brake shoes adapted to contact with said brake drum, linkage means interconnecting the rst of said brake shoes with thevsecond, a rst xed pivot pin, linkage means interconnecting said second brake shoe with said rst xed pivot pin, a third brake shoe, means for connecting said third' brake shoe with said iirst fixed pivot pin, pressure applying means mounted on said third brake she and adapted to exert a thrust on said lirst brake shoe, a second fixed pivot pin, a plurality of levers freely and rotatably mounted on said Vsecond l xed pivot pin, means for maintaining frictional resistance between said levers, linkage means in-l terconnecting said levers with said brake shoes, and elastic means adapted to oppose said pressure applying means. v

9. .Ina braking device, a brake drum', two brake.'

shoes adapted to contact with saidv brake, drum,

means interconnecting said levers with said brake shoes, and a` spring attached to the lever linked with said ,rst brake shoe.

10. In a braking device, a brake drum, two'.

brake shoes adapted to contact with said brake drum, linkage means interconnectingv said brake shoes, a free articulation connecting said linkage means to the first of said brake shoes, an articulation with frictionconnecting said linkage means to the second of said brake shoes, a fixed support, a second linkage means, an articulation with friction connecting said second linkage means to said second brake shoe, a free articulation connecting said second linkage means to said iixed support, a third brake shoe, a third linkage means, a free articulation connecting said third linkage means to said, fixed support, an articulation with friction connecting said third linkage means to said third brake shoe, pressure applying means Supported by said third brake shoe and adapted to exert a thrust on said rst brake shoe, a xed pivot pin,

shoes, and elastic means adapted tcl oppose saidpressure applying means.

11. In a braking device, a brake drum, two brake shoes adapted to contact with said brake drum, linkage vmeans interconnecting said brake shoes, a free articulation connecting said linkage means to the iirst of said vbrake shoes, anarticulation with friction connecting said linkage means, a free articulation connecting said third means to the second of said brake shoes, a fixed support, a second linkage means, an articulation with friction connecting said second linkage means to said second brake shoe, a free articulation connecting said second linkage means to said fixed support, a third brake: shoe, a third linkage tached to the lever linked with the flrst brake shoev n 12. In a braking device, a brake drum, a plu-` l rality of brake shoes adapted to' contact with said brakey drum, expanding means supported by one of said brake shoes and co-acting with an adjacent'brak'e shoe, said expanding means comprising a lever pivoted on said supporting brake shoe, a spring inserted between said brake shoe and said lever, a exible traction cable attached to said lever, and a flexible guiding sheath for said cable, said guiding sheath being anchored to said supporting brake shoe, elastic means adapted to oppose said expanding means and to draw vsaid brake shoes back to their positions of rest, a fixed pivot pin, a plurality of levers freely and rotatably mounted on said fixed pivot pin, means for maintaining frictional resistance between said levers, and linkage means interconnecting said levers and said brake shoes.

13. In a braking device, a brake drum, a plurality of brake shoes a'dapted to contact with said brake drum, expanding means supported by one of said brake shoes and co-acting with an adjacent brake shoe, vsaid expanding means comprising alever pivoted onsaid supporting brake shoe, a spring inserted between said supporting brake shoe and said lever, a flexible traction cable attached to said lever, a flexible guiding sheath for said cable, said sheath being anchored to said supporting brake shoe, elastic means adapted to oppose said expanding meansand to o draw said brake shoes back into a position of rest, linkage means interconnecting acacent brake shoes, a first fixed pivot pin, linkage means interconnecting one of the end brake shoes with said first xed pivot, pin, a second fixed pivot 55 pin, a plurality of levers freely and rotatably mounted on said secnd xed pivot pin, means 2,1s1,se9

for maintaining frictional resistance between said levers, and linkage means interconnecting said levers with said brake shoes.

14. In a braking device, a brake drum, tw

brake shoes adapted to contact with said brake drum, linkage means interconnecting said rst and second brake shoes, va vfirst fixed pivot pin, linkage means interconnecting said second brake shoe with said xed pivot pin, a third brake shoe, means for connecting said third brake shoe to said iixed pivot pin, expanding means supported by one of said brakeshoes and co-acting with an adjacent brake shoe, said expanding means comprising a lever pivoted on said supporting brake shoe, a spring inserted between said supporting brake shoe and said lever, a flexible traction cable attached to said lever, a exible guiding sheath for said cable, said sheath being anchored to saidsupporting brake shoe, a second xed pivot pin, a plurality of levers freely and rotatably mounted on said second fixed pivot pin, means for .maintaining frictional resistance between said levers, linkage means interconnecting said levers with said brake shoes, and elastic means adapted to oppose said expanding means.

15. In'a brakingdevice, a brake drum, two brake shoes adapted to contact with said brake drum, linkage means interconnecting said brake shoes, a free articulation connecting. said linkage means to the rst of said brake shoes, an articulation with friction rconnecting 'said linkage means to said second brake shoe, a fixed support,

va second linkage means,. an articulation with friction connecting said second linkage means to said second brake shoe, a free articulation consupport, a third brakel shoe, a third linkage means, a free articulation connecting said third linkage means to said fixed support, and articulation with friction connecting said third linkage means to said third brake shoe, expanding means supported by one brake shoe and co-acting with an adjacent brake shoe, said expanding means comprising a lever pivoted on the supporting brake shoe, a spring inserted between said supporting brake shoe and said lever, a flexible traction cable attached to said lever, a flexible guiding sheath for said cable, said sheath being an? chored to said supporting brake shoe, a xed pivot pin, a plurality of levers freely and rotatably mountedon said fixed pivot pin, means for` maintaining frictional resistance between said levers, linkage means interconnecting said levers with said brake shoes, and elastic means adapted y to -oppose said expanding' means.

LoUIs CHARLES BRISSON.

as necting saidv second linkage means to said fixed 

